Watford sold captain Keith Eddy to Sheffield United 42 years ago today

Despite chairman Jim Bonser having earlier in the summer insisted that the club was "in the business of keeping our good players", Watford sold inspirational captain Keith Eddy to Sheffield United for a club record £50,000.

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Eddy teamed up with former Hornets Tony Currie and Stewart Scullion at Bramall Lane, and was Ken Furphy's captain once more at New York Cosmos.

Reproduced by kind permission of Matt Rowson from his book,Watford FC On This Day

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Comments (13)

Watford sold captain Keith Eddy to Sheffield United 42 years ago today

Watford exile says...7:43am Fri 1 Aug 14

great player for the club gave me many good memories especially Barrow 1969

great player for the club gave me many good memories especially Barrow 1969Watford exile

great player for the club gave me many good memories especially Barrow 1969

Score: 2

Chris the Vic says...8:32am Fri 1 Aug 14

I remember the news of this sale...it was indeed a black day for the club. As for Mr Bonser...it was a great day when Elton stepped in

I remember the news of this sale...it was indeed a black day for the club.
As for Mr Bonser...it was a great day when Elton stepped inChris the Vic

I remember the news of this sale...it was indeed a black day for the club. As for Mr Bonser...it was a great day when Elton stepped in

Score: 2

micksolly says...8:32am Fri 1 Aug 14

Watford exile wrote…

great player for the club gave me many good memories especially Barrow 1969

Yes a tremendous player.

[quote][p][bold]Watford exile[/bold] wrote:
great player for the club gave me many good memories especially Barrow 1969[/p][/quote]Yes a tremendous player.micksolly

Watford exile wrote…

great player for the club gave me many good memories especially Barrow 1969

Yes a tremendous player.

Score: 2

vicarhorn says...9:38am Fri 1 Aug 14

When we signed him there were letters in the Watford Observer saying we should be signing better players than those associated with Barrow! How wrong they were. Some things never change!

When we signed him there were letters in the Watford Observer saying we should be signing better players than those associated with Barrow! How wrong they were. Some things never change!vicarhorn

When we signed him there were letters in the Watford Observer saying we should be signing better players than those associated with Barrow! How wrong they were. Some things never change!

Score: 3

gloryhornet4 says...12:47pm Fri 1 Aug 14

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think.
Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500.
For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right.
When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up.
Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.gloryhornet4

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

Score: 4

CARDIFFHORN says...1:41pm Fri 1 Aug 14

gloryhornet4 wrote…

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.

[quote][p][bold]gloryhornet4[/bold] wrote:
KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think.
Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500.
For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right.
When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up.
Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.[/p][/quote]Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.CARDIFFHORN

gloryhornet4 wrote…

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.

Score: 5

gloryhornet4 says...2:01pm Fri 1 Aug 14

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.

Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken. Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship. Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.

[quote][p][bold]CARDIFFHORN[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]gloryhornet4[/bold] wrote:
KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think.
Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500.
For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right.
When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up.
Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.[/p][/quote]Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.[/p][/quote]Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken.
Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship.
Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.gloryhornet4

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.

Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken. Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship. Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.

Score: 4

CARDIFFHORN says...3:46pm Fri 1 Aug 14

gloryhornet4 wrote…

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.

Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken. Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship. Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.

And it was Grand National day!

[quote][p][bold]gloryhornet4[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]CARDIFFHORN[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]gloryhornet4[/bold] wrote:
KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think.
Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500.
For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right.
When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up.
Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.[/p][/quote]Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.[/p][/quote]Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken.
Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship.
Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.[/p][/quote]And it was Grand National day!CARDIFFHORN

gloryhornet4 wrote…

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.

Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken. Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship. Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.

And it was Grand National day!

Score: 2

MainStandShambles says...4:11pm Fri 1 Aug 14

It's great to read your Keith Eddy memories and I agree about the penalty taking. In those days I stood behind the Vicarage Road End goal half way up the terrace, a great place to see Eddy ping the ball with absolute precision just inside the keepers right hand post. He didn't need to blast it. He was a good captain too leading by example AND instruction something that seems beyond many of today's players as it's either one or the other. The only Hornets skipper who has matched him in recent times was John Eustace and I do wonder if we have such a 'leader on the pitch' in our current squad. I hope so.

It's great to read your Keith Eddy memories and I agree about the penalty taking. In those days I stood behind the Vicarage Road End goal half way up the terrace, a great place to see Eddy ping the ball with absolute precision just inside the keepers right hand post. He didn't need to blast it.
He was a good captain too leading by example AND instruction something that seems beyond many of today's players as it's either one or the other. The only Hornets skipper who has matched him in recent times was John Eustace and I do wonder if we have such a 'leader on the pitch' in our current squad. I hope so.MainStandShambles

It's great to read your Keith Eddy memories and I agree about the penalty taking. In those days I stood behind the Vicarage Road End goal half way up the terrace, a great place to see Eddy ping the ball with absolute precision just inside the keepers right hand post. He didn't need to blast it. He was a good captain too leading by example AND instruction something that seems beyond many of today's players as it's either one or the other. The only Hornets skipper who has matched him in recent times was John Eustace and I do wonder if we have such a 'leader on the pitch' in our current squad. I hope so.

Score: 4

andyhooked says...4:46pm Fri 1 Aug 14

If I remember right, Keith was crocked when we played the semi-final against Chelsea at White Heart Lane. May not have made a big difference if Keith had of played but perhaps may not have lost 1-5 in the end?

If I remember right, Keith was crocked when we played the semi-final against Chelsea at White Heart Lane. May not have made a big difference if Keith had of played but perhaps may not have lost 1-5 in the end?andyhooked

If I remember right, Keith was crocked when we played the semi-final against Chelsea at White Heart Lane. May not have made a big difference if Keith had of played but perhaps may not have lost 1-5 in the end?

Score: 2

micksolly says...7:36pm Fri 1 Aug 14

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.

Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken. Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship. Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.

And it was Grand National day!

If I remember rightly didn't his pen hit the post?

[quote][p][bold]CARDIFFHORN[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]gloryhornet4[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]CARDIFFHORN[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]gloryhornet4[/bold] wrote:
KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think.
Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500.
For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right.
When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up.
Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.[/p][/quote]Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.[/p][/quote]Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken.
Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship.
Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.[/p][/quote]And it was Grand National day![/p][/quote]If I remember rightly didn't his pen hit the post?micksolly

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.

Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken. Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship. Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.

And it was Grand National day!

If I remember rightly didn't his pen hit the post?

Score: 1

gloryhornet4 says...7:54pm Fri 1 Aug 14

andyhooked wrote…

If I remember right, Keith was crocked when we played the semi-final against Chelsea at White Heart Lane. May not have made a big difference if Keith had of played but perhaps may not have lost 1-5 in the end?

Yes Keith missed the 6th round win against Liverpool and his understudy nutmegged Lawler for the cross for Endean's goal. Welbourne got done by Webb against Chelsea next round and was never quite the same player afterwards.

[quote][p][bold]andyhooked[/bold] wrote:
If I remember right, Keith was crocked when we played the semi-final against Chelsea at White Heart Lane. May not have made a big difference if Keith had of played but perhaps may not have lost 1-5 in the end?[/p][/quote]Yes Keith missed the 6th round win against Liverpool and his understudy nutmegged Lawler for the cross for Endean's goal.
Welbourne got done by Webb against Chelsea next round and was never quite the same player afterwards.gloryhornet4

andyhooked wrote…

If I remember right, Keith was crocked when we played the semi-final against Chelsea at White Heart Lane. May not have made a big difference if Keith had of played but perhaps may not have lost 1-5 in the end?

Yes Keith missed the 6th round win against Liverpool and his understudy nutmegged Lawler for the cross for Endean's goal. Welbourne got done by Webb against Chelsea next round and was never quite the same player afterwards.

Score: 7

gloryhornet4 says...7:58pm Fri 1 Aug 14

micksolly wrote…

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.

Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken. Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship. Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.

And it was Grand National day!

If I remember rightly didn't his pen hit the post?

No the keeper got a hand to it. Thing was unlike other pen takers he knew that getting on target was first always. Players in shoot outs blasting wide should be fined.

[quote][p][bold]micksolly[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]CARDIFFHORN[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]gloryhornet4[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]CARDIFFHORN[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]gloryhornet4[/bold] wrote:
KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think.
Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500.
For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right.
When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up.
Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.[/p][/quote]Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.[/p][/quote]Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken.
Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship.
Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.[/p][/quote]And it was Grand National day![/p][/quote]If I remember rightly didn't his pen hit the post?[/p][/quote]No the keeper got a hand to it.
Thing was unlike other pen takers he knew that getting on target was first always. Players in shoot outs blasting wide should be fined.gloryhornet4

micksolly wrote…

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

CARDIFFHORN wrote…

gloryhornet4 wrote…

KF tried to sign Keith and Barrow wanted about £7,000 and Watford had offered £4,000 I think. Sometime after Barrow got into some cash flow problems and came back to KF and sold for about £1,500. For that we got a club captain and the best penalty taker of the day and certainly the best I have seen in over 40 years at Watford. He had one saved in about 25 for Watford as it became well known he put nearly all to the keeper's right. When he went to SU he was made penalty taker by KF and the United fans booed as they did not know Keith. He scored and shut them up. Keith fell out of love with Watford as Furphy was getting on his case as he had lost speed through some injuries but was still persuaded to follow Furphy wherever he went.

Great player as everyone says. The penalty miss - that memorable night at the County Ground, still won due to a certain Barry Endean.

Keith said Peter Downsborough moved way ahead of the kick and expected it to be re-taken. Yes Barry's late goal in the end secured the championship. Lulu was co-winner of Eurovision that night. All's well that ends well.

And it was Grand National day!

If I remember rightly didn't his pen hit the post?

No the keeper got a hand to it. Thing was unlike other pen takers he knew that getting on target was first always. Players in shoot outs blasting wide should be fined.

Ipsoregulated

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